Snow Shovelling Done Right – Avoid Injury This Winter

Some of us love it and some of us hate it—but snow is a part of many of our lives. Many back and shoulder injuries are caused by shovelling. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital concluded that an average of 11,500 visits to the emergency room per year are shovelling related.

Keep yourself and your back safe with these proper shovelling tips:

Warm up. Prepare for shovelling as you would any other workout; stretch for at least five minutes before you begin.

Get good shoes. Shoes matter when shovelling! Choose boots with great traction to prevent you from slipping.

Give your shovel a spray. Pick up a can of Teflon spray to give your shovel a quick coat before heading out. It helps to reduce snow and ice build up.

Choose an ergonomic shovel. Choose shovels with a slight bend in the handle—these give you a better angle and prevent you from bending over.

Push, don’t throw. Many people scoop and throw shovelfuls of snow to one side, but don’t—that’s the number one mistake people make while shovelling. Protect your back from injury by pushing snow, instead of picking it up and twisting.

Lift with your legs. If you do have to lift, make sure to lift from your legs, with bent knees. Avoid using your back.

Tackle bits at a time. Focus on one area at a time. Experts recommend shovelling in 10 minute intervals. Take breaks when you feel tired!

If you do get injured, call your chiropractor right away so you can get ahead of the pain and prevent yourself from missing any days at work—or missing out on any winter fun!

Call or visit The Madison Clinic, located at 4950 Yonge St. North York, or contact us, at 416-222-8235.